Hairy armpits and women

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 10-20-2010, 12:15 PM

What people are forgetting is that inasmuch shaven underarm hair is associated with women, long underarm hair is associated with men. Is the goal of feminism to be as manly as possible? If you don't like shaving your pits then don't shave them. But I can assure you there's no board of directors keeping this measure in place. It's just Western Cultural standards for women to be shaven and men unshaven. If I shaved all my body hair I wouldn't be empowering men would I?

Paedantic Basterd · 10-20-2010, 12:44 PM

It shouldn't be associated with anything, is the fundamental point.

I am ashamed of a number of my features, none of which is abnormal or unreasonable, but all of which are the result of a society saying "We don't like this". Every girl is subjected to that somehow. It's not healthy.

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 10-20-2010, 12:53 PM

But that's the thing, men also have unreasonable expectations belayed upon them by society. You think I like the fact that I'm soft and, being candid here, weak? Men are "supposed" to be rugged, buff, tough guys who feel no pain.

That expectation is not going to change.

Women are expected to be gentle, beautiful, and small.

That's not going to change.

I know that your point is body hair is part of a larger scheme of things. But to the contrary, I think body hair is a seperate issue. It's a bit like a person becoming obese to protest the fact that people who are obese are viewed as "ugly".

It's just cultural standards of beauty. Some things about yourself you genuinly can't change. Discrimination based on those aspects are the greater injustice to me.

Body hair? It's just in the eye of the beholder. And the majority rule means shaven pits = the norm.

Paedantic Basterd · 10-20-2010, 12:59 PM

I feel like men's expectations are imposed on them by other men* though, because I don't personally know any women who wouldn't appreciate a man who wasn't "macho". I myself find the quintessential "manly man" to be rather off-putting.

I agree with you that the greater shame is in ridicule for that which you cannot change though.

* I know that sounds horrible, but I haven't known any women to be overtly judgmental about such a thing, and when I think about the imposition of that standard, what comes to mind is fathers shaping their sons. I can't tell you how many dads I've known to push their songs into football because they want their child to be a "real man". The mothers I've known have been more supportive of their sons' endeavors into artwork or drama, etc.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 10-20-2010, 01:04 PM

I want to point out Conan that in Africa the men like their women to be big and curvy, it means they are of wealth and can bear children.

I have tossed and turned about how much I want to get into this debate. I do agree that there is double standards, for both men and women. I personally like a man natural, but do love when he has smooth skin and hair styled nice. So ultimately I'm probably not much better than those saying they don't like underarm hair on women. The difference is however, a man grows on me. I can become incredibly attracted to someone over time from getting to know them first and I forget any physical attributes that society might look down on. One of my ex boyfriends had a mono-brow which my friend though looked awful and said 'why don't you get him to shave it?'. Firstly he was an Arab so it was a normal look for them, secondly it's not my place to tell someone how to look, and thirdly it didn't bother me because he was still attractive to me and I love him for the human being he was!

Moral of the story is that when it comes down to who you are attracted too, eventually superficiality has to dissipate if you truely want to connect and love someone to the fullest.

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 10-20-2010, 01:09 PM

I couldn't agree more with the last line of your post.

EDIT: In fact, I don't see any need for this thread to continue. The debate has spanned multiple threads and pretty much every point has been covered, hasn't it? In the end it really does come down to loving somebody for their soul, not their armpits. Sure it might be unattractive at first, but I'm willing to bet that if two people were practically made for each other, differences in appearance don't matter at all.

Paedantic Basterd · 10-20-2010, 01:16 PM

Ideally.

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 10-20-2010, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troymckin

that pic looks like a dude

Occasionally the rest of the internet leaks in. Somebody get a mop.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 10-20-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan

Occasionally the rest of the internet leaks in. Somebody get a mop.

I'm on to it:

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 10-20-2010, 01:20 PM

Why do the women have to do all the cleaning? Uh-oh, I feel another debate coming on

10-20-2010, 01:04 PM	#65 (permalink)
Scarlett O'Hara Make it so Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,181	I want to point out Conan that in Africa the men like their women to be big and curvy, it means they are of wealth and can bear children. I have tossed and turned about how much I want to get into this debate. I do agree that there is double standards, for both men and women. I personally like a man natural, but do love when he has smooth skin and hair styled nice. So ultimately I'm probably not much better than those saying they don't like underarm hair on women. The difference is however, a man grows on me. I can become incredibly attracted to someone over time from getting to know them first and I forget any physical attributes that society might look down on. One of my ex boyfriends had a mono-brow which my friend though looked awful and said 'why don't you get him to shave it?'. Firstly he was an Arab so it was a normal look for them, secondly it's not my place to tell someone how to look, and thirdly it didn't bother me because he was still attractive to me and I love him for the human being he was! Moral of the story is that when it comes down to who you are attracted too, eventually superficiality has to dissipate if you truely want to connect and love someone to the fullest. __________________ "Elph is truly an enfant terrible of the forum, bless and curse him" - Marie, Queen of Thots

10-20-2010, 01:09 PM	#66 (permalink)
~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,538	I couldn't agree more with the last line of your post. EDIT: In fact, I don't see any need for this thread to continue. The debate has spanned multiple threads and pretty much every point has been covered, hasn't it? In the end it really does come down to loving somebody for their soul, not their armpits. Sure it might be unattractive at first, but I'm willing to bet that if two people were practically made for each other, differences in appearance don't matter at all. Last edited by someonecompletelyrandom; 10-20-2010 at 01:15 PM.

10-20-2010, 12:15 PM	#61 (permalink)
~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,538	What people are forgetting is that inasmuch shaven underarm hair is associated with women, long underarm hair is associated with men. Is the goal of feminism to be as manly as possible? If you don't like shaving your pits then don't shave them. But I can assure you there's no board of directors keeping this measure in place. It's just Western Cultural standards for women to be shaven and men unshaven. If I shaved all my body hair I wouldn't be empowering men would I?

10-20-2010, 12:44 PM	#62 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	It shouldn't be associated with anything, is the fundamental point. I am ashamed of a number of my features, none of which is abnormal or unreasonable, but all of which are the result of a society saying "We don't like this". Every girl is subjected to that somehow. It's not healthy.

10-20-2010, 12:53 PM	#63 (permalink)
~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,538	But that's the thing, men also have unreasonable expectations belayed upon them by society. You think I like the fact that I'm soft and, being candid here, weak? Men are "supposed" to be rugged, buff, tough guys who feel no pain. That expectation is not going to change. Women are expected to be gentle, beautiful, and small. That's not going to change. I know that your point is body hair is part of a larger scheme of things. But to the contrary, I think body hair is a seperate issue. It's a bit like a person becoming obese to protest the fact that people who are obese are viewed as "ugly". It's just cultural standards of beauty. Some things about yourself you genuinly can't change. Discrimination based on those aspects are the greater injustice to me. Body hair? It's just in the eye of the beholder. And the majority rule means shaven pits = the norm.

10-20-2010, 12:59 PM	#64 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	I feel like men's expectations are imposed on them by other men* though, because I don't personally know any women who wouldn't appreciate a man who wasn't "macho". I myself find the quintessential "manly man" to be rather off-putting. I agree with you that the greater shame is in ridicule for that which you cannot change though. * I know that sounds horrible, but I haven't known any women to be overtly judgmental about such a thing, and when I think about the imposition of that standard, what comes to mind is fathers shaping their sons. I can't tell you how many dads I've known to push their songs into football because they want their child to be a "real man". The mothers I've known have been more supportive of their sons' endeavors into artwork or drama, etc.

10-20-2010, 01:16 PM	#67 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	Ideally.

10-20-2010, 01:20 PM	#70 (permalink)
~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,538	Why do the women have to do all the cleaning? Uh-oh, I feel another debate coming on